School Started Today! YEAH!!!!!

Here are all of their bags and things ready for school. So cute I had to take a picture!







This is the best picture I could get of them together. Courtney is taking her bow off and Lindsey won't look at the camera and smile all at the same time. It is one or the other...so I take what I can get!
I just thought this was cute because Courtney is looking at what Lindsey is doing and put her hand in her bag like that all by herself. Already starting to do just what big sister does!






They both had good days. Lindsey was so big and didn't cry when I dropped her off. Courtney didn't either, but normally doesn't. Courtney woke up early, I guess she was excited. She was tired before we left so I told them that, but being the first day things were hectic. So, they didn't even get her laid down until 1:20 and she had to be picked up at 2:30! So, needless to say she was exhausted! She was in bed at 5:45 and I don't think she'll be up too early in the morning, but we'll see. All in all, it was fun. Lindsey is starting dance next week, so she's only doing one day of Mother's Day Out. Which is fine, but I'm used to 2 days....I think I'll miss that break, but it will be fun.


She's just growing up! Tomorrow night she is doing Puggles at church, which is a young version of Awana. It will be fun. We are doing the whole Wednesday night supper at church and everything! Memories of GA's....fun times! Then dance will be on Thursday nights. We will have a new fall schedule like we haven't had before, but I'm excited for this new phase in our lives!

Courtney's Party

This is my favorite picture from the whole birthday week and weekend! It is such a "Courtney" face to me. She was being michevious (however you spell that) by not sitting up where I asked her, so I made a game of it and she was done, but I caught a cute smile anyway. You can't see her precious dress that well, but we had an ice cream sundae party, so you get the idea! Pretty cute!!






I wanted a picture of Courtney with her presents, but of course big sister got right in there. As if she were saying "sit here" with her hands! She definately has more of my personality than we ever thought when she was little! I guess that can be a good thing, but at times very strong willed! Mercy!




Courtney was in and out of interest in opening presents. Lindsey of course was a great helper for her, so Lindsey would open it and bring it to show Courtney what it was. Courtney actually stayed in one general area, so by the end of the presents, she had most of them around her and looked as though she had opened them all.







This is Taylor, my brother, and his girlfriend Amber. Courtney is now naked due to eating a cup cake! We were so glad they came down for the party. They made it to Courtney and Lindsey's party this year! Way to go Uncle Taylor!! They are leaving for Spain next week for 2 weeks. Amber wants to open a resturant and they are going there to see some. They are called topas (not sure how you spell that) resturants. I'm not familair with them, but she loves it and is hoping to start doing things with it in January! Lindsey loves playing with Uncle Taylor and Amber....until it is time to kiss good bye and Lindsey won't kiss him because of his beard! Cute!

Happy Birthday to Courtney!

This was Courtney on Sunday morning. Just so cute! She had a bow on, but of course wouldn't leave it on. So big!










This was her birthday breakfast. She liked the candle. She looked as if she was going to blow it out.










Lindsey was helping make the cake. Courtney was walking around and mad that she couldn't see, so we put her up in her chair and she loved watching and feeling like she was part of it. Even if she didn't get what was really going on.








Here's the birthday girl in her tutu and fancy birthday hat. That is one that someone gave Lindsey and I thought it would make such a fancy picture with her tutu and all. It lasted all of the one second that it took to take this picture.








The only present that Courtney opened was the one that Lindsey picked out for her. She'll open ours, nothing huge, on Sunday at her party. Lindsey was so excited to give her the present she had picked out. It was sweet.










Once Courtney wasn't afraid to dive in, she liked the cake! Can you tell? She was not sure about it being on her hands at first. Ryan picked it up and put it to her mouth for her. As he was putting it back on her tray, she leaned her head down to the tray to try and get a bite. So funny! She was covered and had a bath in the kitchen sink!

What a feeling to have my baby as a one year old. I just can't believe that it has gone by so quickly. I'm excited for what lies ahead and try not to think about how fast this year has gone by knowing that the rest of the years will fly even faster. How blessed we are to have such precious girls! Sunday is Courtney's party with just family and a couple of friends. It should be fun. I'll post those for all to see!

Courtney's One Year Picture!

Yesterday I had Courtney's one year picture made! I can't believe it is already time for that! WOW! She is in the same dress and same setting as Lindsey was for her one year picture. It is the only dress I have smocked and I wish that I could do that more often. The only other thing I smocked was what they both came home in. Anyway, here's the link:

http://www.legacyhousephotography.com
view proofs
find my name
password: sscogin10

She wouldn't stand where she was supposed to! A new adventure that I didn't have with Lindsey! I was worn out by the time it was all said and done. She did pretty good, but was either looking at Lindsey or smiling and not looking at the camera. Oh well! There are 2 really good ones that I got....number 10 and number 11. Number 11 so I could see her bare feet! That is what Lindsey's was like!!!

Tag, you are it!

The Rules:

1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (**if you’re a non-blogger, you can email them!)
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


Random facts about me:

1. I'm so sick of hot weather! Really I'm just sick of sweating ALL THE TIME! Thus I just got my hair chopped off! It doesn't touch my shoulders!!

2. Since I was pregnant with Lindsey I have a BIG sweet tooth! I wasn't this way before hardly at all! Now, I can't live without chocolate or ice cream!

3. I love watching Big Brother with Ryan and MTV's The Hills without Ryan!

4. I wish that Ryan and I had time to play co-ed softball like we used to.

5. I can't wait to go on vacation with just Ryan in October! Mexico, here we come!!!

6. I want to learn to make bows really well and sell them online and at craft fairs. Along with tutus and girly things! It is a new dream...Buzzy's Boutique. My mom called me Buzzy for some reason growing up.

7. I'm addicted, yes literally, to e-mail, my blog and just "shopping" on the internet!

8. Ryan and I think we are through having kids. We'll wait and not do anything about it at this point, but we both feel pretty strongly about this decision.

Tag, you are it! Alecia, Alisa, Shannon, Lesli, Lynne, Brandi, Misty, Martha

Are we having fun yet?

This is a PRECIOUS picture if I do say so myself! I wanted some of her standing and then some of her sitting down looking up at me. However, she only wanted to sit and wouldn't look up at me. As you can see from the next picture, when she was done, she was done! The next sequence of events included ripping the bow from her head! I am amazed that she left the bow alone long enough for me to take this picture! She rips them off immediately when I put one on her. I guess I didn't put them on her enough as she was younger. Shoes are now the same way. She refuses to leave them on! I got some precious ones on sale this week and she leaves them on for about a min. and then she bends down and starts ripping the velcro loose and taking her socks off too. I guess she's a true Arkansan!
This is a great picture of Lindsey and Heather. She came back to visit us for a few days before school started. We had fun hanging out and shopping!

Precious Moment

It is the moments like these that I want Lindsey to stay 3! I was putting her to bed tonight and just had one of those "I need a hug" moments. So I hugged her and she put her precious arms around me and giggled.

Sharon:"What would I do without you?"

Lindsey:I don't know, Mommy.

S:Would I have to buy a new Lindsey at Wal-Mart? (anything we need new comes from there in her mind!)

L:Yes, for when I go away somewhere.

S:Where are you going? (not sure what she thinking or if at this point she even knows) Do you mean when you get married?

L:Yes, when I get married. You will have to get a new Daddy too.

S:Why?

L:Because he's going to go and make me married!

Oh, but of course! As I melted into the floor and couldn't wipe the smile off of either of our faces. So sweet, so innocent and so precious. What would I do without those moments?

I was starting to tell Ryan that story when I walked out and couldn't remember exactly how she had said it, but wanted to be able to have it written exactly as she said it, so I walked back in her room (which I NEVER EVER do) to ask. She was about half asleep and thought she'd seen a ghost I guess by the look on her face. I just whispered and reminded her of our conversation and she helped me remember exactly what she had said. Of course, for those of you that know Ryan, my husband had basically NO response to that. I'm sure inside his heart he felt something, surely, hopefully, but he was never going to let me know that.

I try and treasure the moments like these, even the simple...as she counted in spanish tonight for the first time that I know of! It was to 8 and it was perfect, after that she just started repeating the numbers she knew the names of. We talked about how smart that was and how she could count 2 ways now or "dos" ways! :) She wasn't sure what I meant, but in her mind, she can count like Dora! That is what is most important, right my early childhood educator friends?!

Oh, and Courtney is walking almost all the time! That is my bragging on her! Precious!

"These are a few of my favorite things...

One of Courtney's favorite things is taking a bath! She'll be in the living room and I'll go to the girls' bathroom and turn the water on. Within a few seconds, here she comes! She knows it is time. I think yesterday she even said, "baf!" She and Lindsey had been taking a bath together and I got her out to put her diaper and pajamas on. As we were walking back to Lindsey I said, "Where's Lindsey?" Courtney's response sounded a whole lot like "baf" and I had thought earlier when she was getting in the tub that she had said that. So, I'm pretty sure she has another new word! My jabbery child...



This is Courtney's 2nd (very close race at this point though!) favorite thing to do. If this cabinet is closed and there are no plastic dishes on the floor, Courtney will be sure that changes. When she finishes cleaning it out (ha ha!) I pick it up. Later when she comes back, when she notices them picked up she will go over there and a lot of times she'll literally just pull it all out and go back and do something else. It is so funny! Many times I'm glad she's entertained until it is time for me to be cooking supper or something and moving around the kitchen is like an obstacle course! But, hey...whatever makes them happy! Right?!

Sister Times and Some Bragging on Ryan

We are starting to have more moments like these. Lindsey loves Courtney to play with her a lot of the time, however...when she is ready to play by herself, Courtney doesn't understand. So, we are working on sharing and learning that Courtney doesn't understand yet when Lindsey is through playing. Most of the time they are starting to play together really well. Of course Courtney loves it ALL the time! Poor little sister, big sister doesn't want to play with her (sometimes!). I know those battles lie ahead of me more than I already know!
This is one of Courtney's favorite things to do right now. It isn't really a toy that is meant to be a walking toy, it is one that you play with sitting down. But, Courntey figured out she can push it along the floor and she loves it! She is starting to walk some. She still crawls a lot, but is taking more steps every day. When I'm holding her and put her on the floor, now I stand her up and she'll walk to what she wants. She's super close to just being a walker, or better yet "toddler" walker! :)


Last night this was what Lindsey started doing before I realized it. I know you are thinking, "How did it get to that before you realized it?" The deal is, Lindsey will often go in her room and read books and not want me in there, so I was in the kitchen and all of the sudden looked in the living room and there it was. "Lindsey, what are you doing?" I asked. "Making a pile, Mommy." But of course, I should have known! Right? That is what is fun to do, make a pile!?! So, as she was getting ready for bed and picking up what was literally almost every book out of her room off of the floor, she came in the living room and said, "I need some help." So, we talked about how maybe next time just take one "box" of books out of the box instead of 4! She agreed that it would be easier to pick up that way! Mercy!

She's been super sweet lately (knock on wood) and hasn't had any bad bedtimes. Now instead of a bedtime obeying chart, she has a "big girl" chart for not crying when we leave her at church or when we have a babysitter. We must be making gains, because she's going to stay at Honey's house tonight and thought that sounded like a great idea. Ryan has a fishing tournament and I have a small bout of the flu. I guess that is what it is. I'm tired, achy sore throat and coughing. No fever and no upset stomach, luckily. Ryan stayed home today (as instructed by me that if he was going to be gone all weekend--fishing tonight and tomorrow night and playing poker on Sunday) then he was to stay home today so I could rest. He's been awesome. He was up with the girls all morning, had a conference call at 8:00 for work that he did while he was putting Courtney down for a nap and then took Lindsey to "Old McDonald's" aka McDonald's for lunch just the two of them. Courtney just finished lunch and is playing so well by herself. She's a super good baby just like Lindsey. How did I get so lucky?!

I have to brag on my hubby too...not only has he been great at home today, he is an AWESOME manager at work! He had his conference call this morning to see who won a contest that Cintas was doing nation wide. They did divide the contest into regions, so Ryan's location won (sold the most mats) out of all 30 locations in his region! He did a great job of motivating his guys to sell and he did a great job holding his managers accountable for being on top of the sales with their route drivers. So, all of this to say....because he was the highest seller as a General Mananger, he won a new TV for us! We have to get a new entertainment center because it is bigger than the one we have. I think it is like 54" or something crazy! I'm so proud of him! He is super dedicated to Cintas and does a great job of managing, accountability, and motivating his people. I'm so proud of him! Way to go Ryan! I love you lots!

TuTu Cute

This is my new craft I made for Courtney's one year picture in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited. I'm considering starting a small business on e-bay or something making these, bows and one day A-line dresses for a little extra income! It is so up my alley and I'm ready to do these kinds of things since I have my 2 girls.








Courtney took about 10 steps when I put this on her and then walked across the living room today too. I don't think we are too far away from her walking a lot. It is more and more each day.

Big Girls...In Different Ways!

Courtney is so close to just taking off and walking. She isn't very confident in her steps yet, but she's getting there. A few times this week she would "walk" from the chair to the couch, about 3 or 4 steps and make it. This was her first attempt at letting go and moving her feet! So, I figured it was time for shoes. I put Lindsey in shoes ALL THE TIME as an infant, but being the 2nd child and knowing it sometimes isn't worth it, Courtney didn't have shoes on near as much. Not to mention her foot is bigger and she wore some of Lindsey's summer shoes, but most of them didn't fit. Since she wasn't walking, I figured it didn't matter any way. Now, she's close and I think she's a little too old not to have shoes on when we are in public. The ones I bought her were size 3 and she probably needed a 3 1/2. The 4 was too big and the 3's just fit. We'll see how long they last. So, she was facinated by them. Lindsey's that I KNOW she walked in, her little white Keds and sandals, are size 2! Yes, Courtney's feet are definately bigger!

This is Lindsey's new chart. If you've kept up with our blog, you know that Lindsey has needed a chart lately to be rewarded for her obedience. She's done super with that and we've moved on to being "charted" for something new. Now, we are moving on to getting stickers for being a big girl, aka not crying when mommy or daddy have to go somewhere or at church and school. She has been super super attached and not wanting me to drop her off at the nursery or for us to leave our house with a babysitter or for even me to leave her home with Ryan. Seriously, I'm not exaggerating (most of you who know me well will think so, but I promise I'm not)...she gets histarical and is in the floor. Even at home when I have to leave and she's here with Ryan! Seriously, he's your dad, it's ok! Then at church she started the same thing. Soon she will be going to Mother's Day Out and we have to get this taken care of. So, last week I went to Bunco with a friend and we made this chart before I left that says "babysitters, church, and school" and she gets a sticker when she doesn't cry. I'm not sure how many stickers she'll have to get before she gets her reward, a new Bible! I figured since church is really the main focus and MDO will be there, that would be a relative reward. I think her new verse will be "Jeus is always with me." I just have to find that in Sharon 1:1 ( somewhere, right?) Help me out if you know! :) Anyway, it worked today and she did good at church. She didn't walk right in, but she didn't cry when I ran (almost literally) out of the room! We'll see!

Sprinkler Fun

Tonight Ryan turned on the sprinkler and I asked Lindsey if she wanted to play in it. Being that she doesn't like water in her face, I never dreamed she'd want to...much less enjoy it! But, she did! It was cute to see her run through it and then run all the way to the other side of the drive way as if the water was going to continue to chase her or something. Wonder what she was thinking? Courtney was alreayd in bed, so she missed out on the excitement! Too bad, but since she can't walk anyway, it wouldn't have been near as much fun to her! Just thought I'd share a few pictures from the fun we had tonight.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Courtney got to be a big girl for the first time today! I painted her toes. Luckily the picture is blurry because if you know Courtney you are wondering how I even held her toes to get paint close to her toe nails. I sat her in her chair, strapped in, (with a tray in front of her to block her from reaching her toes) in front of the TV. She kept shaking her head no as I was trying to hold them still. She looks cute and big! :)





Lindsey got these headbands from Grandma for her birthday. They are really stretchy and great for in the morning when her hair is out of control! So of course Courtney wanted one! She left in on for a little while, but not for long. For once, Lindsey looked and smiled super big for me! I was glad to capture such a cute expression on her face since lately she won't even look at the camera sometimes! I'm thankful for my precious girls! They are having so much fun together. They have really been playing together and it is so cute to watch. Most of the time! Lindsey wants her to play, but then she decides she doesn't and all of the sudden Courtney doesn't get to play and she doesn't get that. So, I'm looking forward to see them grow up together!